Flexible pressing machine pad



1940- G. w. BRISTOL FLEXIBLE PRESSING MACH INF PAD 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1939 Feb. 13, 1940. w, BRlsTOL 2,190,146

FLEXIBLE PRESSING MACHINE PAD V Fi led May '3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 13, 1940- G. w. BRISTOL Q 2,190,146

FLEXIBLE PRESSING MACHINE PAD Filed May 3. 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

27/ '1' 1'," qzz 26 27 i Feb. 13, 1940.- w BRI TOL 2,190,146

LEXIBLE PRESSING MACHINE m M nw INVENTOR.

I I Patented'Feb. l3, 1940 FLEXIBLE DRESSING MA PAD George W. Bristol, New York. N. Y.

Application May 3, 1939, Serb! No. 211,170

14 Claims. (Gl- 38-66) The purpose of this invention is to provide improvements in yielding metallic underpadding, for laundry and pressing machines, that consists of a plurality of relatively small floating units spaced apart from and resiliently held above a base, thereby increasing the flexibility of the pad, and at the same time providing a dry heat retaining chamber under the pad. These improvements also make it possible to provide a pad that will operate efliciently on curved or straight surfaces, and permit depression to substantially any degree to accommodate buttons, seams, or the like. v This invention is an improvement over my prior Patent Number 1,897,836, in that the holding members extending upward from the base areinclined outward, the caps are readily removable, and the bases are mounted in a network of transverse and longitudinal strips providing an interwoven base adjustable and bendable inv all directions. Other improvements-are in the shape and construction of the cap which, in come bination with the inclined upwardly extending supporting members, makes it possible to provide a relatively floating movement with the entir e cap adapted to be moved straight downward or inward, or at any angle up to approximately 60 degrees, and these movements are obtainedwithout binding in the mounting means or binding of one cap against another. 4

The prior patent provides a plurality of comparatively independent yielding caps held by projections on the lower side extending into grooves in upright'members from a base; however, it was found that this construction permitted engagement of the comers of the caps when the caps were mounted comparatively close together, and it was practically impossible to remove the caps from the bases without destroying them. Other patents have been granted on similar devices, however all ofthese disclose caps mounted on channel shaped members or in some form of. a continuous base member that is substantially impossible to place over a curve with any degree of efliciency, and, while these other devices do provide yielding caps, they do not provide a relatively floating cap, or a cap that is yieldable in all directions without striking or binding against an adjoining cap or upon the mount- 50 ing means, and, therefore, these, devices have been found objectionable because with expansion and contraction the binding is increased so that they stick or do not yield, and then the tremendous pressure on the ironing pad'breaks the caps,

55 and also the mounting means.

cal construction.

The object of the invention is, therefore, to improve the construction of resilient or yielding. metallic pads of this type so thatthe caps may yield or move downward, straight, or at any angle without one cap engaging or binding against an 5 adjoining cap, and with the mounting means so shaped that there can be no binding between the cap and mounting means.

Another object is to provide mounting means for flexible or yielding caps of this type which 10 is adapted to be used eitheron a flat or straight surface, or around acurve or on any combination 1 of curves andflat surfaces,

Another object is to provide a yielding cap for the underpadding of laundry and pressing 15 machines which permits circulation of air or steam under the pad, thereby providing a heat retaining area or space under pad.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap for resilient padding which is sufliciently 20 ventilated to permit moisture from the cloth padding to escape into the area below the caps where it will be evaporated by the heat of the buck of theinachine. Another object. is to provide mounting means 25 for yielding metallic underpadding whichfacilitates assembling and makes it possible to obtain substantially any combination of pads.

A further object is to provide mounting means for yielding metallic pads in which the caps thereso of may readily be removed and replaced.

And a still further object is to'provide resilient metallic padding for lggndry and pressing machines which is flexible a substantially floating, and which is also of a simple and economiwith these ends in view the invention embodies a resilient metallic padding comprising fa plurality of caps having relatively large openings in the surfaces thereof, substantially vertical posts in which thecaps are slidably mounted, springs resiliently holding the caps upward, and a network of material inwhich said posts may be mounted. 5

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein: I

Figure 1 is a plan view of a section showing a corner of the pad with parts assembled, parts omitted, and partsbroken away. I

Figure 2 is an 'end view illustrated in elevation showing a. portion of the pad with parts omitted with the cross strips in pad illustrated in Figure 19.

through the pad, showing the caps in elevation section. Figure 4 is a detail showing the base strip of the pad.

Figure 5 is a side in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a of the pad.

Figure 7 is a sid in'Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a plan view of one of the end caps of the pad. 3

Figure 9 is a similar view of a center cap of the pad when the pad is used on a curve.

Figure 10 is a view showing the intermediate caps of the pad.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the cap shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is an end elevation of the cap shown in Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a plan view of the stud upon which the caps are mounted.

Figure 14 is an end view of the stud.

Figure 15 is an end view showing a side elevation of the stud.

Figure 16 is a view showing a section of a pad positioned on a curve, with some of the caps indicated in the depressed position by dotted lines.

Figure 17 is a-similar view showing a section of the pad on a straight base, with the positions of some of the caps distorted, and withone cap shown in the assembling position.

Figure 18 is a similar view looking toward the open sides of the caps.

Figure 19 is a plan view of a corner of a pad formed of the strips illustrated in Figure 22 with parts omitted and parts. broken away. Figure 20 is a detail showing a portion of one of the strips illustrated in Figure 6 assembled over one of the strips illustrated in Figure 22.

Figure 21 is an end view of a portion of the elevation of the strip shown plan view of the binding strip elevation of the strip shown Figure 22 is a plan view showing an alternate design of a strip, as indicated in Figure 4, in

which the uprights of the studs are formed integral with the strip.

Figure 23 is a view showing a cross section .through the strip shown in Figure 22. elevation of the strip shown Figure 24 isa side in Figure 22.-

Figure 25 is a detail showing a longitudinal section through a, portion of the strip shown in Figure 22 on line 26-25 of Figure 22.

In the drawings the device is shown as it may be made, wherein numeral 1 indicates the cap,

numeral 2, the cap studs, numeral 3, the longitudinal strips; numeral 4, the and numeral 5, the springs.

The caps I are vertically slidable on posts of transverse strips,

2 the studs 2, and the studs are held in openings in the m'embers3 and also in recesses in the members 4, and the caps are resiliently held upward by the springs 5. In assembling the pads the strips 3 are placed over the strips 4 with the studs 2 placed over these strips and with the Vertical posts thereof extending upward through them sothat this part of the device lies upon the base as an interwoven mat with any part' thereof readily replaceable. The springs are then placed upon the strips 3 and the caps placed upon the extensions of the studs 2 byplacing the notches in the upper projections thereof through ends of the studs with the caps held in substantially an angle of 60 degrees, as shown at the -2,1oo,14c

bend downward as shown in Figure 11, and at one side is a section that bends downward so that tongues 8 extending outward therefrom will extend under the top 6 of an adjoining cap as shown in Figure 1. The first row of caps, however, which are indicated by'the numeral 9 and shown. in Figures 8 and 9, are provided with tongues I 0 having openings in them adapted to lock over projections on the interior of adjoin ing caps as shown in Figure 1. At the ends the members i are sections l l which will bend inward as shown in Figure 11. These sections ll extend into recesses 12 on the interior of posts 13 extending upward from theplate 2 forming the base. The upper ends of the posts are formed by plates 14 having slots l5 through which the parts I! pass when assembling the cap on thebase with the cap held as shown in Figure 17. The lower ends of the springs 5 are held between the posts, and the upper ends are held between projections l6 extending downward from the plate 6 and punched from one of the openings I 71 therein, Which are provided in the upper surfaces 6 of the caps. When assembling the device, the strips 3 and 4 are attached to end strips I8 by eyelets as shown in Figure 1, and similar strips are placed at the opposite end of the pad. g

The strips i are made as shown in Figures 4 and 5 in which the edges thereof are provided with recesses i9 which correspond with the posts I3, and the members 3, shown in Figures 6 and 7, and which are formed with openings 20, are placed across the strips 4 with the openings 20 corresponding with the recesses I9, and also of the same shape as the posts l3, so that the posts may be placed upward through these recesses with the plates 2 below the strips d. The edges at the ends of the strips 3 are bent downward forming flanges 2i which are the same length as the thickness of the plates 2, so thatall of the parts will rest evenly upon a base member. The strips 3 may be used continuously or alternated with a strip for every other row of caps, and the spaces on the strips 4 between the strips 3 may be provided with bosses 22 for holding the springs. The strips 3 are provided with circular bosses 23 over which the springs 5 are placed, and it will be noted that the lower ends of the springs are, therefore, located by the bosses 22 and 23, whereas the upper ends are held between the projections 17. This provides a complete pad, and with the respective parts in place, it will be noted that the caps will be resiliently held upward with their with the downward movement limitedby the closing of the spring.

It will be understood that the distance between the recesses I9 may vary, and, in; the design shown, the distance between the recesses having a fiat surface is 15, whereas this gradually diminishes to as small as as the strips extend over a curve, and this dimension is materially decreased =when the curve becomes comparatively sharp, as shown in Figure 16. It is appreciated, however, that the distance between the centers of these recesses which control the distances between the upper surfaces ofthe caps may be varied according to different radii.

dentations 24 Iormingfspacingridges extending downward therefrom, and the strips 3 are formed with indentations 25 extending downward the same depth as the ridges 24, spacing the strips from a base and locating tween. 1 c An alternate arrangement is shown in Figures 22, 23 and 24, in which the posts, which are indicated by the numeral 26, are made integral with strips 21 which correspond with the strips 4, and the strips 3 are" placed transversely across the strips 21 with the openings corresponding with the posts 24, and 3 may be used continuously or may be spaced to correspond with every other cap, and with the strips alternately spaced to correspond with every other cap it is necessary to provide bosses 28 on the strips 21 between the strips 3. In this design the strips 25 are similar to and substantially of the same size as the strips 4, and the posts 26 are formed from the material of the strips so that'they extend directly upward simchanges may ilar to the posts l3. The upper ends of these posts are provided with notches 9 which are similar to the notches l5, and the caps may, therefore, be assembled .on the posts in a similar manner. The strips 21 extend longitudinally of the pad, and these are held together by the strips 3 positioned perpendicularly thereto. It will be understood that other changes may be made in the'construction without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. One of which be in the use of other means for mounting or holding the bases or posts upon the bed of amachine, .another may be in the use of other means for assembling the caps on the bases. and still another may be in the use of other means for compensating for the different dimensions caused by placing the device on a curved surface.

The construction will be readily un'derstood from thetoregoing description. In use the device may be provided as shown and described, and it will be noted, particularly in Figures 1'7 and 18, that, with the caps of the pad assembled in this manner, and particularly with this rectangular type of construction, each individual cap may be pressed'downward to substantially any position without-binding between the caps or between the caps and the supports therefor. The

dotted lines indicate the normal position of the caps, whereas the full lines indicate the extreme angles to which the caps may be pressed downward by buttons, hems, seams, or the like. It will be noted, as indicated by the dotted lines, that the caps may be pressed straight downward, or one cornerv of the cap may be pressed all of the way downward, or several caps may be pressed downward at the same time without any possibility whatever of one cap engaging another and of one cap binding against the other, and also with substantially no possibility whatever of the caps binding upon the studs. It will be understood that the springs pass upward inside of the caps, thereby providing the greatest possible spring length and flexibility ited space occupied by the device.

It will be noted in Figure 17 that even caps on a curve may be pressed straight downward, or only one corner or side may bepressed downward, and even in this position there will be no possible binding or the caps against each other or against the supporting means. This particular arrangement of caps the strips therebe- I it will be noted that the strips.

in the limwith. the supporting members provides. substantially a floating cap which, at the same time, has suilicient force to sustain a considerable load, and this force may be varied at will depending upon the size of wire used in the springs.

Having thus fully described the invention, what Patent is:

1. A resilient pad comprising a plurality of individual units each independently resilient, and all individually mounted on transverse and longitudinal strips, in which each unit is provided I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters with a cap, means resiliently holding said cap upward, and grooved posts with projections from the cap extending into said grooves limiting the upward movement of the cap, said posts tapering upward providing relative flexibility of movement of said cap.

-2. A resilient'pad comprising a plurality of individual units each independently resilient, and

all individually mounted on transverse and iongitudinal strips, in which each unit is provided .cap extending into said grooves limiting the upward movement of the cap, and in which said limiting means tapers outward and downward.

providing flexibility in the tilting movement of said cap in all directions, and said resilient me? me comprising a spring extending upward into said cap.

4. A resilient pad comprising a plurality of individual units each independently resilient, and all individually mounted on transverse and iongitudinal strips, in which the transverse strips areformed with recesses in the sides thereof, and the longitudinal strips with openings corresponding with said recesses, and base members with posts extending upward through said recesses and openings providing mounting means for springs providing the resilient members of said units.

5. A resilient pad comprising a plurality of individual units each independently resilient, and all individually mounted on transverse and longitudinal strips, in which the transverse strips are formed with recesses in the sides thereof and the longitudinalkilp with openings corresponding with said recesses, and the units include base members with posts extending upward through said recesses and openings providing mounting means for resilient members of said units, said.

posts sloping outward and upward.

6. A-resilient pad comprising a plurality of individual units 'each independently resilient, and all individually. mounted on transverse and longitudinal strips,-in which the transverse strips are formed with recesses inthe sides thereof, and the longitudinal strips with openings corresponding with said recesses, and the units include base members with posts extending upward through said recesses. and'openings providing mounting means for springs providing. the resilient membets of said. units, said posts sloping upward and 15 thereon.

outward and having caps- 'vertically slidable 7. A resilient pad comprising a' plurality of individual units each independently resilient, and all individually tudinal strips, in which the transverse strips are formed with recesses in the sides thereof, and the longitudinal strips with openings corresponding with said recesses, and the units include-base members with postsyextending upward through said recesses and openings providing mounting means for springs providing the resilient members of said units, said -posts sloping upward and outward and having caps vertically slidable thereon, said caps provided vrith spring members by which they are held upward.

8. A resilient pad comprising a plurality of individual units each independently resilient, and all individually mounted on transverse andlongitudinal strips, in which the transverse strips are formed with recesses in the sides thereof, and the longitudinal strips with openings corresponding with said recesses, and the units include base members with posts extending upward through said recesses and openings providing mounting means for springs providing the resilient members of said units, said posts-sloping upward and outward and having caps vertically slidable thereon, said caps provided with spring members by which they are held upward, and the upper ends of said posts provided with slots permitting removing and replacing said capsu 9. A unit for a resilient pad comprising a cap, posts upon which said'cap is vertically slidable, said posts sloping outward toward their upper ends and means resiliently holding said cap upward, said unit characterized in that flanges at the upper ends of the posts are provided with 'slots permitting removing and replacing said caps, with the caps turned to such an angle that lips on the lower ends ofsaid caps pass through said slots to permit removal of said caps from said posts.

10. A unit for a resilient cap, posts upon which said cap is vertically slidable, said posts sloping outward toward their upper ends and means resiliently holding said cap upward, said unit characterized in that said posts are mounted upon a common base member and extend through openings and recesses in holding mounted on transverse and longipad comprising a strips of material positioned at right angles-to the strips forming the base, forming a network, for holding said caps substantially in engages men and preventing binding between the caps,

11. A unit for a resilient pad comprising a cap, posts upon which said cap is vertically, slidable, said posts sloping outward toward theirupper ends and means resiliently ward, said unit characterized in that the units are mounted upon a base comprising longitudinal and transverse strips of material with means locating and holding said resilient holding means, and posts to locate said caps in a substantially smooth plane with the sides of the caps substantially in engagement, and tween the caps.

12. A resilient underpadding for laundry and holding said cap up-- preventing binding be pressing machines comprising the combination of a plurality of independent capshaving means resiliently holding said caps upward, sloping, guiding and limiting means for said caps located at diametrically opposite points, and base members comprising longitudinal and transverse strips of material having means holding said' sloping guide members for holding said caps in a relatively smooth plane with the caps substantially in engagement with each other and preventing binding between the caps.

13. A resilient unit comprising a base, a cap;

and a spring between said'cap and base, with upwardly and outwardly sloping posts extending from said base with grooves in their outer surfaces, and tongues extending from said caps into said grooves and in sliding engagement therewith, said unit characterized by notches in flanges at the upper ends of the poststhroughwhigh said tongues extending from when assembling said units, to a relatively sharp angle.

14. A resilient unit comprising a base, a. cap, and a spring between said cap and base, with upwardly and outwardly sloping posts extending from said base with with the caps tilted in engagement.

GEORGE W. BRISTOL.

said caps may pass 

